Travel the NFL: Best and worst tailgating cities for your wallet
Tens of thousands of Americans have plans to attend their favorite NFL team’s games this season to root in-person and catch the live action of the sport.
Whether you’re attending a game close to home or have a tradition of going on the road to show your fandom, plan to include tailgating expenses in your budget.
These tailgating expenses can include parking, food and drinks and your favorite party snacks.
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As this year’s NFL season kicks off, Oddspedia, a New York-based sports news platform, analyzed the best tailgate destinations for football fanatics so you can get the most bang for your buck and manage your tailgating costs.
Tailgate season is here, which means now is the time to figure out just how much it will cost to enjoy some food and drink with friends before the big game. (iStock)
Facts and figures ahead of NFL tailgating season
Oddspedia examined the costs of a tailgate experience for a group of four hungry football game-goers and included the cost of parking in the tailgate zone for the first games of the season, plus the costs of essential party foods and drinks to make the tailgate a winning time.
“To estimate the cost of tailgating for four people, we divided our research into two main categories: food and drink and parking,” said Dustin Saracini, a betting analyst with Oddspedia who is based in Toronto.
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Next, he said, the process included using a list of classic items fans love to enjoy pregame and collected price data online from a local grocery store near each stadium.
The cost of a tailgate experience is made up of two major categories: food and drink, parking. (iStock)
The food and drinks that were included in the estimated tailgating costs were four different dips and four types of chips, as well as sub rolls, mayonnaise, meats, cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onion (to make a sandwich).
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Items to make cheeseburgers were also included, such as burgers, buns, patties, cheese, lettuce and tomato.
Purchases for buffalo chicken wings, pretzels and hot dogs were also accounted for.
Along with some staple tailgate meals, a 16-pack of beer, two liters of soda and plenty of water are great beverages to pack for your tailgate. (iStock)
Popular drinks that are purchased for tailgating include beer (16-pack), Coca-Cola (two liters) and water (two 1.5L bottles).
Most expensive NFL tailgates in the US
San Francisco 49ers: Levi’s Stadium might be the most expensive tailgate, coming in at $292.33, with parking fees of $132, according to Oddspedia’s data.
Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers: The state-of-the-art $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium offers an average parking fee of $100 and tailgating costs come to $257.55.
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Dallas Cowboys: The famous Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, which has an average parking fee of $88. This stadium location ranks the third-most expensive at $242.15.
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, ranks No. 3 as the most expensive tailgate location with a parking fee averaging $88. (iStock)
Least expensive NFL tailgates in the US
Arizona Cardinals: Tailgating at State Farm Stadium will reportedly cost you an estimate of $158.07 with parking spots priced at around $21.
Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers: These southern cities cost around $173 to $181 with the Atlanta Falcons fans’ tailgating costing the least. Parking at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is priced at $21.
Average costs: The pregame experience for four tailgaters averages $205.17, with an average of $147.79 for food and drink and $57.38 for parking, Oddspedia reported.
Saracini told Fox News Digital that parking cost data focused on the first game of the season at each stadium.
“We took a look at official tailgating lots or those relatively close by that allowed fans to tailgate,” he said.
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Also, cheaper price ranges were considered.
“While some lots had limited availability, we were able to identify standard parking spots for most stadiums,” added Saracini.
“We also consulted official stadium/team sources or used resale sites like Seatgeek.”
There are official tailgating lots available for fans to enjoy their pregame events and some separate, standard parking spots for those just coming in for the game. (iStock)
To compute the total costs, food and drink costs with the parking costs were calculated to provide a total tailgating cost for four people at each stadium.
What affects tailgating costs?
Saracini said two big factors driving up tailgating costs are gas and food prices.
“It’s gotten a lot more expensive to travel to games nowadays, especially for those going across the country,” he noted.
“And with food prices skyrocketing, hosting a tailgate party for a bunch of people can really hit your wallet.”
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Also, many stadiums have been upgrading their facilities.
“While it’s nice to have nicer amenities, it can also mean higher costs for tailgaters,” Saracini said.
The cost of tailgating has increased along with rising gas and food prices. (iStock)
How can fans curb spending?
Consider these methods to save money on tailgating, according to Saracini.
Set a budget based on what you can afford
Attend NFL games in a group to share costs
Pool your supplies; for example, consider sharing a grill with friends
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One way to avoid expensive food costs at games is to bring your own tailgate snacks and fill up on them to avoid stadium concessions. (iStock)
Bring your own food and drinks whenever possible
You can also save serious dough on stadium concessions by buying smart.
“Think budget-friendly options like fried chicken, cupcakes or nachos,” Saracini said.
Be flexible
If you’re not picky about the date or game, you could snag some savings.
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“But if you have your heart set on a specific game, start planning early,” Saracini said.
Do you know how much it costs to tailgate before your favorite game? Here is everything you need to know before paying the bill for your pregame celebrations. (iStock)
Avoid buying swag at the stadium
Jerseys and gear are usually cheaper elsewhere.
Get creative about buying tickets
When checking ticket re-sellers, Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub in the San Francisco Bay Area, said searching for single tickets may yield better prices than groups.
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“Meet up with your friends for the tailgate but head into the game solo,” Budelli told Fox News Digital via email.
“We can see how roster moves and fan optimism have contributed to a boost in sales this season.”
